Vending machine attachment



April 25, 1933. J HARTLE, JR 1,905,169

VENDING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed April 11, 1931 a ze,

v I 4 3] 32 /6 INVENTOR Jaw 17412? ll;

22 W ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED STATES JACOB n. HABTLE, JR., or man son, New JERSEY ENDING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Application filed April 11, 1931. Serial No. 529,315.

This invention relates, generally, to vending machines; and the invention has reference, more particularly,'to a novel attachment for vending machines, which attachment provides a ame of skill whereby a purchaser, if skill in addition to the article purchased.

This invention has for itsprincipal object to provide a novel attachment for vending machines, which attachment constitutes a game of skill adapted to be played by the purchaser of an article from the vending machine, which game of skill if properly played will entitle the purchaser to a premium, thereby increasing the interest of purchasers in the vending machine and increasing the sales thereof.

Another object of the present invention lies inthe provision of a novel vending machine attachment which is of simple, rugged construction, and which may be readily applied to a standard vending machine, the said attachment comprising a rectangular casing having a transparentifront wall, a playing spoon'behind this wall, a registering device and certain hazards, the purpose of the game being to manipulate the article purchased by means of the spoon so as to avoid the hazards and move the article purchased onto the registering' device to be registered, thereby entitling the purchaser to a premium. I I

Still another object of the present invention is'to provide a novel vending machine attachment which acts to deliver the article purchased to the purchaser, regardless of whether the article is registered or not, the said device having means for affording a permanent record of the number of premiums paid. 40

time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, inwhich'z- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a vending machine equipped with the novel attachment of the'present invention and illustrates the manner of using the attachment.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in front eleva- I, can obtain a premium Other objects of this invention, not at this tion with parts broken away of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1. f

Fig. 3 is a sectional view-taken alongline 33 of Fig. 2 :lookingin the directionof thearrows. V g

. Fig, 4 is a'fragmentary view in rear ele- 'vationlof a portion of the attachment struc ture; and r 1 Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 1 5-5 of'Fig. 4:. i Similar characters of reference are em ployed in all'of the above described views to indicate corresponding parts.

' Referring now to said drawing, the reference numeral 1 designates a vending machine of a well known type, the same having a penny or other coin slot' 2 and'an operating handle 8. The machine 1 is adapted to vend spherical articles 1, such as'candied chewing gum and the like. In applyingthe novel at-"- tachment of this invention to the machinel, the article discharge pocket at the front of the machine is preferably removed anda chute member 5 is placed over the machine discharge aperture for conveying the pur chased articles discharged through this aperture to the attachment of this invention.

This novel attachment in its preferred form comprises a substantially rectangular casing 6 having a back wall 12, side walls 14 '80 i and 14 and a topand bottom. 'Rearwardly directed brackets or lugs 7 are provided near the top of casing 6 forattachment, as by screws, to depending legs 8 provided on the vending machine 1. The top of the casing 6 is provided with a central aperture 9 underlying the chute 5 so that articles discharged from chute 5 fall through aperture 9'and on- I to a downwardly and rearwardly inclined wall or chute portion 10 formed-.inathe casing 6. Chute portion 10 conveys the articles rearwardly to a vertical chute 11 positioned against the rear wall 12 of casing 6 and secured thereto by suitable fastening means, as by screws 52 (see 4). Therear wall' 12 is provided witha central aperture 13 in its lower portion throughwhich the articles 4 pass after being discharged from chute 11.

A spoon 15 has its bowl portion '16 normallyfpositioned adjacent the opening 13, sothat as an article passes through this opening it will be deposited upon this bowl portion 16 of spoon 15, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The handle of spoon 15 extends outwardly 5 through a vertical slot or opening 17 provided in the side wall 14 of easing 6. The handle-of spoon 15'is confined within slot 17 byca glass or other transparent front wall 18 provided at the forward portion of casing 6. The lower marginal edge portion of the glass plate or wall 18 is supported asin a rabbet 19 provided in atransversely extending base plate 20, which base plate 20 is removably secured to the casing'6, as by screws 21 extending through apertures in the aside' walls 114,and 14 of this casing and threaded into ithe abase'plate. The upper smarginal edgelzportionof the glassplate or wall:18is1pre ferably received and! supported @1 within a groove 22 provided in the casing 6.

I Thesidemarginal'edge: portions ofithe glass aplate or rwallr18 preferably'liein rabbets 23 provided in the side walls 14 and 14 ofcasing-e.

H V The handle of spoon 15 is preferably provided with spacedrearwardly directed pro- --jections Eor'pins 24 which lie adjacent" opposite sides of the side wall 14 of easing 6 at slot 17 "therein.

bowl-"portion of the spoon in a horizontal po sition *for supporting the article 4. This aguard maybe omitted in some instances. "i1 The casin'g 6 is formed with two panels or 1 partit-ions'26'at the sides of the opening 13.

=.These partitions extendforwardly from-the arear wall -12'fo'r-a distancetoward the base =,plate 2O and act to' confine the articles 4 so that :a's the same are discharged from the vending machine they will come to rest upon -turned through during any given period.

:ther'bowLportion 16 of spoon 15.

A plurality of inclined bars 27,28, 29 and "=30,provi dinginclinedplanes at their upper surfaces; are secured to the frontsurfaoe of firear wall'12 of the casing 6. These inclined "barsareadapte'd to be secured in desired adjusted position upon thezrear wall 12 as by screws ;21"-extending through apertures in "9560} these rbars and'threaded into the rear wall 1565 'ticalpassage ;.is provided between the bars article 14 is deposited on the-inclined -;pl ane provided by the bar 27 this? .artic-le wi ll roll disposed arm of a bell-crank lever33 forni- Pins 24, by engaging the :3 .op'p'ositesurfaces of this side wall 14, serve wardly and normallyposi-tions the handle clined planes, it will roll down the same toward one sidewall of'the casing 6. If the article is deposited on theplanes 28, 29 or '30, it will roll down these planes and will be immediately discharged through discharge apertures 31 provided in the base plate 30. After passing through s a -disohargeraperture =31-it will then comefto rest in-o'neorthe other of pocket members 52 positioned at; the

lowercorners of the casing; jIf,--however,-the

down the same and come to rest upon a forwardly directed, substantially horizontally ing a part of a registering device. 9 Bell-crank lever 381's pivotally mounted upon a transverse pin 34 extending across-a rectangular aperture-'40 provided in therear wall12:and has-a dependingarnrformedrvaith a shoulder or pawl 85-f0r engagin-ga ratchet w wheel 36: turnably mounted as on .a screw {41 which is threaded into the-rear wall 12 The 'end portions-of'pin 34' arefixe'd in apertures providedi-n the rear wall 1'2 'at;thesides of rectangular aperture {40. coil spring iii 'lfifl pulls downwardly upon the depending .arm

of bell-crank lever 33,, thereby tendingkto hold this bell-crank lever in thegpositionncs pecially illustrated in Fig- 5. A coil. spring 38-surrounds-the pin 34 within aperture 40 1 and urges the bell-crank :lever 33'tra nsverse- 1y: along this pin so that pawl 35: thereof {is normally engaged with one of the teeth -of ratchetfwheel-36." A stoppawl 39 is secured to therear surface of wall 12' and; engagesthe ratchet 'wheel 36 for; preventingreverse 'movementof ratchet wheel 86. Agpointer 42 isprov-ided onthe rearfwalll2and preferably cooperates with numerals :43 printed on the ratchet-wheel 36 to thereby indicate 5.115 the number oftooth distances this wheel-has coil tension, spring -48 is attae-hedatr its upper endto the upper portion of the vside-wallv14 of casing 6 and at its lower flend-ito slide-plate 47. Tension spring48-urges; slide platenp- 46 so that the pin 44 engages the upper end of slot 45 above bell-'cra-nklever 33. An article 4, after rolling down the inclined plane of bar 27, comes to rest upon the horizontal arm of bell-crank lever 33 and is positioned just under the pin 44, as especially shown in Fig. 2. w r If now the handle 46 is depressed against the tension of spring 48, the pin 44 will be depressed, thereby engaging article 4 and causing this article to move downwardly depressing bell-crank lever 33 and effecting upward turning movement of pawl 35 to move ratchet wheel 36 through the distance of one tooth. Continued downwardmovement of handle 46- causes the article 4 to move downwardly and off of the bell-crank lever 33 after which the article falls through opening .31 and into the pocket 32 where the same is accessible to the purchaser. As soon as the article rides off of bell-crank lever 33, spring 37 moves this bell-crank lever into its normal position especially illustrated in Fig. 5. While this belhcrank lever is returning to its normal position, coil spring 38 i compressed slightly as the pawl 35 of bell-crank lever 33 rides over the next successive tooth of ratchet wheel 36.

In use, the purchaser'after putting a penny or other proper coin in slot 2, pulls upon the handle 3, whereupon the article 4 is discharged from the vending machine and is deposited upon the bowl portion 16 of spoon 15, the spoon at this time resting in the bottom of the casing 6 as illustrated in .F igs. 2 and 3. The purchaser then manipulates the handle of spoon 15 withthe intention of raising the article 4 and placing the same upon the inclined bar'27. This is difiicult to do because it willbe noted that the vertical slot 17 terminates at about the height of the top of inclined bar 27 so it is very hard for the purchaser to shift the article from the spoon and onto the inclined plane of bar 27. Ofttimes in, his effort to get the article 4 onto the inclined plane 27, the purchaser will drop the article ontoone of the planes 28, 29 or 30, whereupon the article is discharged immediately into onev of the pockets 32. However, should the purchaser succeed in getting the article onto the inclined plane of bar 27, the same will roll down and onto the horizontal arm of bellcrank lever 33. The purchaser may then call the storekeepers attention to the position of the article, whereupon either the'storekeeper or the'purchaser may depress handle 46, thereby registering the article and at the same time discharging the same through the pocket 32. The storekeeper will then give the purchaser a premium, which may be a chocolate candy bar or the like, or other prize as a reward for the skillful operation of the machine. 1

-At the end of a given period, the number of premiums that have been given out maybe determined by reading the position of ratchet wheel 36 with respect to pointer 42. In this way, the account between the storekeeper and the owner of thevending machine may be kept straight the registering device serving as a check on the storekeeper and preventing him from collecting for-more premiums than he actually gave out.

The registering device-of the attachment is illustrated as covered by the locked housing 49 having alock 50 therein which may be-unlocked by use of thevproper key held by the owner of the vending machine. Lock 50 isillustratedas'consisting of: a screw threaded through a bracket 53 attached to casing 6. This screw has a socket in its outer end for'receiving akey and by turning the screw by means of the key, the same may be caused to engage or disengage a recess in housing 49 atlwill, thereby locking orunlocking the housing. When housing 49 is unlocked it may be bodily. removed from its supporting hinge blocks 54.- Use of the locked housing 49 isdesira'ble to prevent unauthorized persons from tampering with the registering device and also'gives'the owner of the vending machine a positive check upon the storekeeper in thatit informs the owner of, the vending machine how many premiums the storekeeper has-paid. V

It will be noted that thenovel attachment of thisinvention is of extremely-simple construction and may be'easilyapplied to any standard vending machine. The said attachment creates considerable interest on the part of the purchaser, thereby enhancing the sales of the machine, while at the same time providing premiums for skillful purchasers.

It will be apparent that the inclined bars 27, 28, 29' and 30 may be placed at various positions upon the rear wall 12 of the 021s ing 6. 'Thus, by so varying the positions of these bars, the placing of the-article 4 on inclined bar 27 may be made easier or more difiicult as desired. Such adjustment of these inclined bars may be obtained by providing additional threaded holes in therear wall 12 for receiving the screws 31', or these bars may have slots instead of holes therein 1 for receiving the screws'3l, therebypermitting the adjustment of the bars on the screws as will be apparent.- Intsome instances the registering device may be omitted, in which case the novel attachment is used merely as a game, whereby a purchaser may try to get the article onto any one of the bars or upon the bar 27 and then watch the article roll down into one of the pockets 32. Of course, when the attachment is notequipped' with the registering device, the handle 46 will also be omitted together with its connected slide plate 47.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and -many apparently ifo widely difi'erent embodiments of this invention: could be: made: Without departing; from the s'cope thereofiit is intended that'all mat- 'ter ='c'ontained in the above description or shown inrthe accompanying drawing shall interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I is claimed is r 1. A vending machineattachment comprising an apertured casing with a transparent front wall, a spoon having a bowl portion "adapted to rest atthe' bottom of said casing and a handle-portion extending outwardly through the aperture in said casing, chute -means for conveying an article discharged 'fro'ma vending machine onto the bowl portionofsaid spoon, a registeringdevice mountedon said casing and having an operating arm'extendingrintotheinterior of said casing for actuation'by a-vended article, said-casing having an article dischargeaperture in-the lower :portion thereof, and inclined members inounted within said casing, one of said members serving to convey'a vended articleplaced thereon to said discharge aperture and another of said members'serving to convey the vended article to-said registering devicearm.

-2.- A vending machine attachmentcomp'rising, an apertured casing witha transparent front wall, a spoon having a bowl portion adapted to rest at the bottoln'of said casing and a handle portion-extending outwardly throughcthe aperture in said casing,"'chute means 'for conveying an artlcle discharged from a vending machine onto the bowl pors tion "of said spoon, a registering device mountedro'n said casing and having an operating. arm extending into the interior of said casing for actuation-by a vended 'article,'said casing having an article discharge aperture 'in the' lower portion thereof, inclined members mounted within said casing,one-of said 'memb'ers'serving to convey a vended article placedthereon tosaid discharge'aperture' and another of said members serving to convey theWended -articIe to said registering device arm,.and :means for manipulating an a'rticle .while in e-ng-agement with said registering idevice arm forefi'ecting an operation of said register and 'thexdi'schargingof the article through "said discharge aperture. p

3; Avending machineattachment comprising, an apertured casing with 'a' transparent front wall, a spoon having a bowl portion within said-casing and adapted to rest on the bottom of said casing, said'spoon having a handle portion extending outwardly through an aperturein said casing,v chute 'ineans for conveying an article discharged firoma vendingjmachine onto the bowl p'or- -tion-of saidspoo'n, anregistering device carried by saidcasing andhavingan operating arm projecting into-the interior'of said casing for actuation by a vended article, a pluralityof spaced-inclined bars mountedwitn having handle in said casing, certain oifsaid'bar's being adapted to convey an-article droppedarom said spoon to apertures-in said casing for discharge therefrom,1and:oneof saidinclin'ed barsserving to convey the article to the opcenter of the bottom of: said casing, -said spoon extending r outwardly through an" aperture in said casing, said handle being adapted to be manipulated to effect the raising or loweringofthe bowl portion of said spoon, chute means for conveying an article discharged from a vending'machine onto the bowl portion of said spoon,'a

registering device carried by said'casing and having an operating arm promoting into the interior of said casing for actuation by a vended article, a plurality of spaced inclined bars mounted within said casingadj acent the path of movement of the bowl portion of said spoon, certain of said bars being adapted to convey anvarticle dropped from said spoon to-apertures in said casing-for discharge therefrom, and oneofsaid bars serving to convey the article onto the operating arm of said registering device, and means ,for engagmg flillfl article whlle in contact with said registering device arm to effect an operation of .the registering device and the discharge of the article through anaperturein the casing.

5. Avending machine attachment comprising, an apertured casingwith a transparent front. wall, a spoon having a bowl portion within'said casing and adapted to restat the center of the bottom of said casing, said spoon having a handle ,through an aperture in said: casing, said extending J outwardly handle being adapted to. be manipulated to effect the raising or lowering of the bowl portion of said spoon, means on saidvhandle and engaging said casing to confine the movementiofsaid spoon bowl portion toa substantially vertical path, chute means for convey.-

ing; an article discharged from 'a vending machine onto the bowl portion'of said spoon,

a registering device carried by said casing and having.- an operatlngarm pro eCti'ng into the interior of said casing for actuation by a vended article, a plurality of spaced bars containedwithin said casing at'ofpposite sides of the vertical path'ofmoveme'nt ofthebowl portion'of saidspo'on, said bars-beinginclined downwardly and outwardly from the p'athof -movement of the spoon bowlportion certain of said bars being adapted to convey an article droppedifromsaid spoon to apertures in said casing for discharge therefrom, and one of said bars serving to convey the article onto the operating arm of said registering device, and means for engaging the article while in contact with said registering device arm to efiect an operation of the registering device and the discharge of the article through an aperture in the casing.

6. A vending machine attachment comprising, a casing having an article discharge opening and atransparent wallextending above said opening, a spoon contained within said casing, said casing having a slot in the wall thereof through which the handle of said spoon projects, chute means for conveying an article from a vending machine onto said spoon, a registering device mounted on said casing, article conveying members contained within said casing for conveying vended articles toward said discharge open ing, one of said conveying members acting to deliver an article to said registering device before such article reaches said discharge opening, and means for effecting the registration and discharge of said article.

A vending machine attachment comprising, a casing having an article discharge opening and a transparent wall extending above said opening, a bodily movable'spoon contained within said casing, said casing having a slot in the Wall thereof through which the handle of said spoon projects, said handle enabling said spoon to be manually moved as a whole with respect to said casing, chute means for conveying an article vended from a vending machine onto said spoon, and article conveying members contained within said casing for conveying articles dropped from said spoon toward said discharge opening.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of March, 1931.

JACOB E. HARTLE, JR. 

